Electromagnetic winding mechanism for clockwork



1932 v A. SZENTE 1,839,356

ELECTROMAGNETIC WINDING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKWORK Filed July 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 5, 1932. A. SZENTE 1,839,356

ELECTROMAGNETIC WINDING MECHANISM FOR GLOCKWORK Filed July 2'7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 5, 1932 AUREL SZENTE, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA ELECTROMAGNETIC WINDING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKWORK Application filed July 27, 1928, Serial No. 295,734, and in Austria July 27, 1927.

My invention relates to a spring-actuated device, for the electrical control of the spring motor in electromagnetically wound clocks, thereby dispensing with delicate stop mecha- 51 nism for limiting the winding, and for automatically controlling an independent switch for shutting off the current between thewinding intervals (adjustable, at will, between 12 and 24 hours), so that the winding mechanism is thereupon actuated in the ordinary way, by the unwinding of the spring and operates without any secondary noises.

Since in automatically controlled clock movements, the electric winding always takes place after considerable time intervals, the operation, if the present type of electromagnetic winding mechanism were employed would always be accompanied by persistent and extremely disturbing noises. To prevent these, a new winding mechanism is employed in accordance with this invention, by meansof which noise-producing parts, such as ratchet wheels, winding and locking pawls, etc.. are eliminated.

The present invention avoids the drawbacks of the present systems in which the winding mechanism continuously prevents the spring from running down, coming every few minutes into action, accompanied by the disturbing noises due to the closing of the contacts. With such a system the winding mechanism, in actuating the spring, subjects the escapement and movement to a great strain causing unduly loud ticking, whilst when the current is oil and the reserve energy of the clock-work is being utilized, there results troublesome irregular running, also affecting the regulating of the clock. Moreover, in the event of-brokensprings, etc., troubles inevitably result.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating two typical embodiments of the new control device in a clock equipped with a noise-' less electromagnetic device for windingup the spring, 3

Fig. 1 is a mechanism.

' Fig. 2 is a bottom view of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 show details of the mechamsm.

front elevation of the switch Fig. 5 isa side elevation of one embodiment of the control mechanism when the limit of running down has been attained.

Fig. 6. shows the position of the parts of the control mechanism, when the winding has been completed and the spring contact has been released interrupting the circuit.

Fig. 7 shows the position of the parts of the same mechanism during the winding of the clock work before it is completely wound. Fig. 8 shows the position ofthe parts of the same mechanism during unwinding with the switch open. f

Fig. 9 is a section along line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Between the arms of the magnet 1 provided with the coils 2, 3, the armature 4 is pivotally mounted on a sleeve 5 (which guides the winding shaft 6) and is equipped with a return-spring 5. The winding shaft 6 carries two annular'sliding bearings 7, 8, each consisting of an inner disc 9 and 10 respectively securedto the winding shaft 6 and formed 7 with a peripheral arcua-t'e slot 11. The curved base of each of these slots is not concentric with the axis of the disc but is so formed that the slot narrows towards one end. The .disc 9 is surrounded by a ring 12 while the disc 10 is surrounded by a ring 13, which rings are provided with cover plates. The ring 12 has an arm 14 with a slot 15 engaged by a pin 16 attached to the armature of the magnet, and the ring 13 has an arm 25 with an aperture 17 engaged by a pin 18 mounted on the base plate. Hence the ring 12 will always share in the oscillations of the armature, whereas. the ring 13 always remains stationary.

Each of the slots 11 (between the disc 9 and ring 12, and between the disc 10 and ring 13, respectively) accommodates a sliding member 19 in the shape of a ball, roller or the like which is pressed towards the narrow end of the slot by a spring 20.

When the armature 4 of the magnet is attracted, the ring 12turns with it without afiecting the disc 9 because the sliding member 19 is moved towards the wider end of the slot. On the other hand, when the armature returns to its neutral position, the disc 9 is rotated, also because of the pressure of ly adjustable stops 22, 23, which control the loosely and elastically mounted contact lever 24 and switch the current on and ofi, the armature being free to swing at the same time.

To the armature 4 is also attached one end of a chain, traction band or the like 26 whose other end is connected to a pin, bolt or the like 27. This arrangement limits the return stroke of the armature silently.

According to Figs. 5 to 9 (representing the one typical embodiment of the control device), the arbor 6 of the main spring carries the winding wheel 28, which gears permanently with the control wheel 29 transmitting its motion thereto. The same arbor 6 carries the loosely mounted drum .30 of the spring, its pinion 31 also being permanently in mesh with and transmitting motion to a. second control wheel 33 mounted on the same shaft, 32, as theaforesaid control wheel 29.

The shaft 32 is rotatably mounted, and the control wheel 33 is secured thereon, so that the shaft necessarily shares in the rotational movement of the wheel. That portion of the shaft 32 which is situated between the control wheels 29 and 33 is screw-threaded and a control disc 34 travels thereon. Driver pins 35, attached to the loose control wheel 29, extend through corresponding perforations in the control disc 34'. Consequently, when the loose control wheel 29 is actuated, the drivers 35 and the control disc 34 share in the rotational movement, th disc 34 screwing itself along the shaft 32 towards the fixed control wheel 33. If, on the other hand, the wheel 33 is actuated, the threaded shaft 32 turns with it and the control disc 34 is positively moved in the direction of the loose control wheel 29.

The control disc 34 is provided with a peripheral groove 36 Fi 9 in which engages a control fork 37 embracing said control disc. This fork, being suitably guided on the shaft 38by the spring 39, shares the reciprocating movement of the control disc .34. The spring 39 on the one hand ensures uniform guidance of the control fork, and also gives relief when the spring mechanism is running down. The end of the control fork 37 is provided with a flat spring 40 and also with a. pin, or the like, 41 carrying a releasing disc 42.

In a block of insulating material, Figs. 5-8, are inserted both the pivot 44 of a bellcrank contact lever 45 (provided at one end with a spring 46 and carrying on the other end the insulated contact pin 47 and the pivot 48 of a check or release lever 49 having hooked end controlled by a spring 50. Both the release lever 49 and the contact lever 45 are provided with adjustable screws, pins or the like 51, 52 for the purpose of regulating their stroke. 53 and 54 are suitable contact pins mounted in the insulating block and connecting the wire of the magnet coil with the contact mechanism of the armature.

During the electrical Winding operation, the control wheel 29 is turned by the winding wheel 28, and its drivers 35 turn the control disc 34 at the same time, so that the latter moves towards the second control wheel 33, this movement being shared in by the control fork .37 with its flat spring 40. When the latter comes in contact with the screw 52 of the stationary bell-crank lever 45, it is flexed to an extent commensurate with the resistance encountered 6). At the same time, the releasing disc 42 actuates the short end of the release lever 49, so that the hooked end of said lever releases the locked bell-crank lever 45, whereupon the pressure of the spring 40 forcibly withdraws the contact pin 47. This breaks the circuit, and the winding shaft and magnet armature remain at rest without the use of a stop.

The spring drum 30, which now begins to unv-rind, transmits its rotational movement to the control wheel 33, the shaft 32 of which also turns; and since t 1e second control wheel 29, with the drivers 35, remains stationary, the control disc 34 moves back again towards the control wheel 29, carrying with it the fork 37 and spring 40. During this movement the release lever 49, under the action of the spring 50, brings its hooked end in front of the'contact lever 45 and secures it in the open position 8).

When, during this movement, the fiat spring 40 of the control fork 37 comes in contact with the screw 51 on the release lever 49, the latter is depressed, its hooked end releasing the contact lever 45, which, under the action of the spring 46, moves quickly towards the contact and completes the circuit (Fig. 5). During the ensuing new winding operation thus initiated, the spring again presses the release lever 49 so that its hooked end'comes in rear of the contact lever 45. the latter being thereby pressed against the contact and locked.

By adjusting the screws 51 and 52 (which may, if desired, be fitted with a scale) it is possible to regulate the stroke of the control fork and therefore the intervals of switching the current, that is to say the time during which the main spring mechanism is allowed to run down before re-winding.

As can be seen from Figs. 5 and 7, the switch also remains closed, even in the event of failure of the current duringthe winding operation or of the spring energy of the clockwork, since, while the main spring actuates the mechanism in running down completely, the release lever 49 is disengaged from lever 45 when the member reaches the position shown in Fig. '5 and the spring 46 then urges the lever to a switch closing position, so that when the current is restored, the main spring immediately is wound up, as already described.

I claim:

1. In an electromagnetic winding device for clock-work mechanisms provided with a spring drive, a fixed spindle mounted in said clockwork, a movable control lever guided by said spindle in both directions without stops, one end of said lever being free, means connected with the other end of said lever for guiding the same along said fixed spindle, a circuit including said winding mechanism, a switch in said circuit, a lever system for operating said switch, and means on said lever system for controlling the space between the elements of said lever system effooting the release of said switch corresponding to the length of the mainspring to be utilized.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1, in which said control lever is forked at its operating end.

3. The combination as specified in claim 1, in which said control lever is provided with a hub having a bore for said fixed spindle,

including a spring bearing against said control lever for effecting its uniformity and elastically being guided.

4. The combination as specified in claim 1, including a leaf spring fixed to the free end of said control lever so as to project into a space between parts of said lever system.

5. The combination as specified in claim 1, including a member mounted on said control lever and a release disk carried by said member for releasing said lever system.

6. The combination as specified in claim 1, V

in which said lever system cOmprises a main lever and an auxiliary lever cooperating with said main lever, said auxiliary lever having a hook-shaped end.

7. The combination as specified in claim 1,

in which said lever system comprises a main lever and an auxiliary lever cooperating with said main lever, said auxiliary lever having a hook-shaped end, including adjustable arresting elements on said main lever and said auxiliary lever.

AUREL SZENTE. 

